I read an article in last Friday’s newspaper regarding a local atheist who filed a lawsuit against a Corpus Christi pastor who had a cross built next to his church believed to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. To begin with, it seems odd to me that this would concern or matter to a man who lives 150 miles from it and I suppose that even some folks who profess to be Christians may not be in favor of the giant cross in question. Nevertheless, the reasons the petitioner filed this lawsuit were that the cross in question violated the state constitution and that it jeopardizes the safety of passing motorists. Off the record, he ironically added that the giant cross was “tacky as hell.” I don’t want to sound cruel, but this poor man may one day be more qualified to compare things to hell than today. He also demanded that the mayor of the city and two other council members who attended the groundbreaking ceremony be officially reprimanded even though it was on a Sunday and not a business day.

As is the case with publicly voicing our opposition to many social matters, our main motive is very often hidden. I choose to believe it is no different in the case of this avowed atheist. He may have presented arguments that seem to have some merit, humanly speaking. Nevertheless, I believe he was mostly motivated by his hate or prejudice against anything that is associated with the name of Christ. Preparing His disciples for the opposition they would encounter in their service to Him, Jesus told them: “If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.” (John 15:24) Hate was the underlying reason the religious Jewish leaders constantly opposed Christ during His earthly ministry. They hated Him because He was not like them and because what He preached and taught exposed their error and hypocrisy. Should it be any different today with all who oppose anything that is associated with Christ, in particular atheists? I suppose there are some atheists who oppose us mainly because they feel we are delusional, but I suspect hatred is what mostly motivates the majority of them against us.

Dear child of God, you can give the criticism leveled against churches and Christianity in general some thought, but don’t put too much stock on the opinions of those who are obviously prejudiced against all things Christ. There, of course, will be some times when the criticism of a church or Christian leader may be valid. After all, Churches are composed of imperfect people. That is certainly not God’s fault, however, for He is perfect. Our obligation is to be led by what God says in His word and not by what others say or think. Those who stay close and are true to Christ don’t sway in the wind. Neither are they swayed by worldly opinions.

Memory verse for the week: (Psalm 16:8) “I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”